AP GoPo Exam Cheat Sheet Notes

Review Strategy

• Create an organized REVIEW NOTEBOOK for the OPEN BOOK exam.
• Ensure sections are clear and categorized:
  • Required Documents
  • Required SCOTUS Cases
  • Constitutional Foundations
  • Interaction with Government Branches
  • Civil Liberties & Civil Rights

Key Supreme Court Cases

McCulloch v Maryland (1819)

• Key Principle: Supremacy Clause
• Summary:
  • Confirmed Congress's right to use implied powers.
  • Validated national government supremacy over states.
  • States cannot tax or interfere with federal government activities.
• Holding: US Constitution and federal laws supreme over state laws.

United States v Lopez (1995)

• Key Principle: Commerce Clause
• Summary:
  • Gun Free School Zones Act exceeded Congress's authority.
  • Congress cannot regulate gun possession in school zones under Commerce Clause.
• Holding: Commerce Clause cannot be used to criminalize gun possession in school zones.

Baker v Carr (1962)

• Key Principle: 14th Amendment - Equal Protection Clause
• Summary:
  • Addressed justiciable questions in redistricting.
  • Enabled federal court intervention in redistricting.
  • State legislative districts must be as equal as possible.
• Holding: Established "one man, one vote." Courts can review redistricting.

Shaw v Reno (1993)

• Key Principle: 14th Amendment - Equal Protection Clause
• Summary:
  • Gerrymandering based on race requires strict scrutiny.
  • Race cannot be predominant in redistricting.
• Holding: Legislative redistricting must consider race consciously without being the sole factor.

Marbury v Madison (1803)

• Key Principle: Article III - Judicial Review
• Summary:
  • Established judicial review.
  • Empowered Supreme Court to declare Congressional acts unconstitutional.
• Holding: Supreme Court can nullify unconstitutional legislative or executive acts.

Engle v Vitale (1962)

• Key Principle: 1st Amendment - Establishment Clause
• Summary:
  • Struck down state-sponsored prayer in schools.
• Holding: Schools cannot sponsor religious activities.

Wisconsin v Yoder (1972)

• Key Principle: 1st Amendment - Free Exercise Clause
• Summary:
  • Amish community's right to pull children from school for religious reasons.
• Holding: Amish are not required to attend school past 8th grade.

Tinker v Des Moines (1969)

• Key Principle: 1st Amendment - Freedom of Speech (Symbolic Speech)
• Summary:
  • Protected symbolic speech (e.g., wearing armbands).
• Holding: Students can wear armbands to protest if non-disruptive.

Schenck v United States (1919)

• Key Principle: 1st Amendment - Free Speech
• Summary:
  • Anti-draft pamphlets not protected under free speech as they posed a clear and present danger.
• Holding: Speech causing clear and present danger is not protected.

New York Times v U.S. (1971)

• Key Principle: 1st Amendment - Freedom of Press
• Summary:
  • Limited government's ability to impose prior restraint.
  • Allowed publication of classified Pentagon Papers.
• Holding: Strong presumption against prior restraint even for national security.

McDonald v Chicago (2010)

• Key Principle: 14th Amendment - Due Process Clause, 2nd Amendment
• Summary:
  • 2nd Amendment right to bear arms applies to states via Due Process Clause.
• Holding: Right to bear arms for self-defense is applicable to the states.

Gideon v Wainwright (1963)

• Key Principle: 6th Amendment - Right to Counsel
• Summary:
  • Right to counsel applies to major state crimes via the 14th Amendment.
• Holding: Guarantee of an attorney for indigent defendants.

Roe v Wade (1973)

• Key Principle: 14th Amendment Due Process Clause, 9th Amendment - Right of Privacy
• Summary:
  • Right to privacy covers the decision to obtain an abortion.
• Holding: Protects woman's right to abortion.

Brown v Board of Education (1954)

• Key Principle: 14th Amendment - Equal Protection Clause
• Summary:
  • Segregated schools violate Equal Protection Clause.
  • Overturned "separate but equal" doctrine.
• Holding: Racial segregation in schools is illegal.

Citizens United v F.E.C. (2010)

• Key Principle: 1st Amendment - Free Speech
• Summary:
  • Struck down limits on independent political expenditures.
  • Overturned parts of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act.
• Holding: Political spending by corporations and unions is a form of protected free speech.